Saturday, February 19, 2011

In other awards news this week Takahisa Zeze picked up the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Prize at the 61st annual Berlin International Film Festival for his 4-hour plus drama "Heaven's Story". Zeze was not in Berlin to accept the award but sent a statement from Japan expressing his gratitude for "the fact that the film was appreciated by an international audience." "Heaven's Story" follows interweaving storylines around a central storyline of a woman seeking revenge for the murder of her family.

The Berlin International Film Festival has become a key stop on the fest circuit for Japanese film-makers. This marks the third consecutive year that a Japanese film has picked up the FIPRESCI Prize at Berlin. In 2009 the honour went to Sion Sono's "Love Exposure and the 2010 award went to Isao Yukisada's "Parade".